We use this solution in our server room for end-user network conductivity.
Department Leader: Project Leadership Production Compact at SKODA AUTO a.s.
Easy to manage, scalable, but could be more secure
Pros and Cons
- "One of the main features of this solution is it is easy to manage."
- "One of the main features of this solution is it is easy to manage."
- "The security of the solution could be improved, it is really important to us."
- "The security of the solution could be improved, it is really important to us."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
One of the main features of this solution is it is easy to manage.
What needs improvement?
The security of the solution could be improved, it is really important to us.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for two years.
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Catalyst Switches
March 2026
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of the solution is good but could always improve.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable and we have approximately 1,000 computers using it.
How are customer service and support?
The support is good.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have previously used HP and other Cisco switches.
How was the initial setup?
The installation could be easier.
What about the implementation team?
We have five technicians for the deployment and maintenance.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to others.
I rate Cisco Catalyst Switches a seven out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Network Engineer at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
Extremely stable and very high quality with pretty good technical support
Pros and Cons
- "The quality of a Cisco switch is very high. They are extremely stable."
- "Cisco switches are of very high quality, which makes them very stable."
- "Cisco should work to lower its costs. It's quite expensive right now."
- "The cost of the solution is quite high. There are other cheaper options."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution for the switching capabilities.
What is most valuable?
The initial setup of the product is pretty simple and straightforward.
The solution is adding more automation capabilities.
The quality of a Cisco switch is very high. They are extremely stable.
What needs improvement?
Cisco should work to lower its costs. It's quite expensive right now. They force the customer to buy the DNA license and that shouldn't be the case.
Instead of making automation cheaper, they are making it more expensive and clients don't like it.
They really need to simplify their licensing and simplify moving to a controller base.
The scalability is limited.
Cisco also owns Meraki, however, they keep these switches as separate products, and customers are confused by that. Meraki has a lot of features and a customer questions why those features are there and not here. Meraki also allows for more integrations with solutions such as HP, and it's harder to integrate Cisco.
The same is true of Nexus switches, which basically do the same thing and yet everything is siloed. It's confusing for the clients.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for about 20 years. It's been two decades. I've had a lot of time to get to know the product.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Cisco switches are of very high quality, which makes them very stable. It's a very strong selling point for the product. It doesn't crash or freeze. There are no bugs or glitches. It's very reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is limited. There are other solutions that can do it better. Cisco is not number one in this respect - especially as more companies head toward the cloud. Luxul, for example, offers better scalability - if that is what a company is looking for.
We tend to use the solution quite extensively.
How are customer service and technical support?
I've used Cisco for 20 years or so and therefore have had encounters with technical support. I would note that the first 15 or so years had been very great and I would describe them as very helpful and responsive. However, as of the last five years, I find they are going south. They aren't as good as they used to be. It's still okay. It's just not as good as it was.
Whereas in the past I've given them five out of five stars, now I would rate them at a four.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We didn't previously use a different solution. We're mostly a Cisco shop.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is not overly complex. To set up a switch is not a big issue. I see Cisco is trying to go into the DNA to do some automation.
Every site is different in terms of deployment and the number of switches/users. On every site, we have two engineers and we're also doing web support. The setup is a one-time thing and the switches are pretty stable, and therefore it doesn't take us much time to do an implementation so long as there are no hardware failures.
What about the implementation team?
I handled the implementation myself. I did not need the assistance of a consultant or implementor. I have enough experience to handle it at this point.
What was our ROI?
I've used a few different switches and I wouldn't say that you necessarily get a better ROI just because you use Cisco.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The cost of the solution is quite high. There are other cheaper options. On Cisco, you're paying probably double or triple times the cost.
Many people don't like the complexity. It should be simpler and offer a low cost. The reason people are looking for automation is that they are looking to lower costs, however, if you go to Cisco solutions, the automation solution is very expensive. This is the opposite of the customer expectations.
I do not do the purchasing directly and therefore I can't estimate an exact cost for the product.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I've used Juniper and HPE switches, and, if you were to compare them, I'd say there isn't too much of a difference. The functionality is pretty much the same.
You can also compare the solution to Luxul, which has better scalability.
What other advice do I have?
We are a customer.
Cisco tries to move clients over to their own ecosystem so that they are only using Cisco from end-to-end.
The solution is very good for enterprises, however, it might be a bit much for a small company that may only need one switch.
If the costs are not a concern for an organization, I would recommend the product.
I'd rate the solution at an eight out of ten. We've been very happy with the stability on offer, however, the pricing isn't the greatest and the licensing is confusing.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Catalyst Switches
March 2026
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Catalyst Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2026.
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IT Sales Engineer at Comstar - Information Systems Associates Ltd.
Provides flexibility and is reliable from a security perspective
Pros and Cons
- "The product is also flexible."
- "The product's high price is an area of concern where improvements are required."
What is our primary use case?
Cisco offers good switches. In Pakistan, there are a lot of customers who are Cisco lovers, and they also use Cisco's firewall products.
What is most valuable?
The features of Cisco that I find to be the most valuable or effective are its network security and speed.
What needs improvement?
My company cannot import Cisco products in Pakistan due to some L/C issues. Cisco can consider the aforementioned details related to imports for improvement.
The product's high price is an area of concern where improvements are required.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Cisco Catalyst Switches for more than three years. I sell the product to my company's clients in Pakistan and don't use it personally.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a scalable solution. The product is also flexible.
My company deals with around 50 customers who use the product.
How are customer service and support?
The quality of support services provided by the product is good. You can open a ticket with the support team and also use Cisco's RMA option, which is quite a speedy process.
The product's support team is good, and it is easy to open a ticket. The product's technical team responds to a user's queries in a few hours or minutes.
How was the initial setup?
The product's initial setup phase was easy.
There is a manual from Cisco that can be followed to deploy the product, and our company's clients mostly use it since it helps them take care of the deployment process by themselves. Our company's clients don't seek help from my organization for deployment. Our company's clients will only approach us if they get stuck somewhere with the deployment process.
For the deployment process, there is a portal maintained by Cisco where you can log in and take care of the configuration part. Cisco provides guidance with the steps involved in the deployment, and one can easily follow them. The user dashboard in Cisco's hotel can be helpful for those who are involved in deploying the product.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The new products from Cisco in the market are expensive. My company cannot import Cisco products, so they are mostly unavailable.
My company's clients pay yearly for the licensing costs attached to the solution.
What other advice do I have?
The product was helpful in improving the network performance for our company's clients, considering that I have dealt with a few companies who are quite satisfied with Cisco's technical features because, on a monthly basis, they acquire five to six Cisco tools from my organization. Our company's clients can't afford the new equipment provided by Cisco and mostly prefer to purchase refurbished equipment. Our company's customers are satisfied with refurbished equipment.
The product is reliable from a security perspective since it offers a secure VPN.
The product's ease of management has improved our company's operational efficiency since Cisco supports configuration or troubleshooting issues.
I recommend the product to those who plan to use it.
Integrating the product with other network tools impacts our company's IT infrastructure since it is an easy process to integrate, deploy, and configure the tool.
The product's users experience many benefits, considering that it is a scalable and reliable tool. Cisco places a strong emphasis on security. Cisco offers a range of features to protect its users' networks. The product secures its users' networks from cyber threats. It is easy to deploy and configure, and its support is good. I sell a lot of Cisco refurbished or used equipment in Pakistan. People love to use Cisco in Pakistan. There are a lot of Cisco lovers in the market who won't switch from it to some other brand. Some of our customers have been using Cisco for many years. I have suggested other brands to my company's customers, but they are stuck with Cisco due to its great features.
I rate the overall product an eight and a half out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Reseller
Founder at Torres & Torres Tech
Easy to configure and has good features like BGP, VPN, and spine-leaf architecture
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable features of the solution are BGP, VPN, and spine-leaf architecture."
- "The solution’s licensing could be improved."
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features of the solution are BGP, VPN, and spine-leaf architecture. The solution has good scalability. The solution’s configuration is easy.
What needs improvement?
The solution’s licensing could be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Cisco Catalyst Switches for 13 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the solution ten out of ten for stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution has good scalability. Around 8,000 users use Cisco Catalyst Switches in our organization.
I rate the solution a nine out of ten for scalability.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I previously used Juniper.
How was the initial setup?
The solution’s initial setup is easy.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Cisco Catalyst Switches is a very expensive solution.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend the solution to other users.
Overall, I rate the solution ten out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Security Administrator at a insurance company with 1,001-5,000 employees
A durable and user-friendly solution that is very stable and provides very good technical support
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is durable."
- "The product must improve its security."
What is our primary use case?
I use the product to connect computers to the local area network.
What is most valuable?
The solution is durable. We have a lot of power fluctuations, yet the product works well. It is user-friendly.
What needs improvement?
The product must improve its security. It should be more intelligent. The optimization features must be faster. It must follow in tandem with technology.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for around ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The tool is very stable. I rate the stability a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the tool’s scalability a seven out of ten. We plan to replace all our switches. We will choose Cisco.
How are customer service and support?
Cisco has a lot of layers of support. We won’t have a problem with support. The support is very good.
How was the initial setup?
I rate the ease of setup an eight out of ten. It is plug-and-play. The setup is straightforward.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The product is quite expensive.
What other advice do I have?
The solution is good. Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Senior Network Security Engineer at KNZ SOLUTIONS INC
A highly scalable and easy-to-deploy solution that can be deployed remotely
Pros and Cons
- "The product is convenient to deploy."
- "The stability must be improved."
What is our primary use case?
We are mainly deploying the tool for client requirements.
What is most valuable?
The product is convenient to deploy.
What needs improvement?
The stability must be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for 20 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Sometimes, when we do upgrades, the tool goes down. We purchased a new one, but it didn’t go well.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The tool is highly scalable. Our clients are mostly enterprises.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is easy. We deploy the tool mostly in the cloud. Someone in our team will be physically connected to the console and give us access to the network. Then, we deploy it remotely. The deployment can be done in half an hour. We connect the key ports, get the network management configurations, and deploy the product.
What other advice do I have?
We’re a service provider. If people find the price to be competitive, they choose Catalyst. Otherwise, they go with other vendors. Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. MSP
Sales project manager at Saraha
Works well, easy to use, and stable
Pros and Cons
- "These switches are stable. They work well and are easy to use."
- "These switches are stable, work well, and are easy to use."
- "Cisco switches are expensive."
- "Cisco switches are expensive."
What is our primary use case?
We work on level 2 and level 3 switches to connect many branches.
What is most valuable?
These switches are stable. They work well and are easy to use.
What needs improvement?
Cisco switches are expensive.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been selling this solution for about 10 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
They are stable.
How are customer service and support?
I have not contacted their support. Another engineer has contacted them. We have our own two people for support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We also deal with the HP ProCurve switch, but it is not as good in Libya.
How was the initial setup?
It is not complex now because we have CCNA and CCNP engineers. We have two engineers who are certified with Cisco. Overall, we have three people who work with this solution.
What about the implementation team?
We implemented and finished a big project for a company. The company is still working with the same components that we installed. For deployment, I have two people with me, but in our company, we have a big team of 20 people.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
They are expensive.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend these switches to others. Cisco is a good company.
I would rate Cisco Catalyst Switches a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Fraud Risk Analyst at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees
Easy to use, reliable, and reasonably priced
Pros and Cons
- "Cisco Switches are more stable in terms of hardware and firmware, rather than Juniper Switches."
- "Cisco Catalyst Switches is the best product that we use."
- "In terms of performance, Juniper switches have a more user-friendly interface and more features than Cisco switches."
- "Cisco Catalyst Switches could be more secure."
What is our primary use case?
Cisco Catalyst Switches is our core switch.
What is most valuable?
Cisco Catalyst Switches are easy to use.
They are user-friendly.
It's a common product to use.
Cisco Catalyst Switches is the best product that we use.
We have a lot of security modules, but we don't have any problems with switches.
Cisco Switches are more stable in terms of hardware and firmware, rather than Juniper Switches.
We think it's popular. We prefer to use Cisco CLI commands rather than Juniper CLI commands.
What needs improvement?
Cisco Catalyst Switches could be more secure.
In terms of performance, Juniper switches have a more user-friendly interface and more features than Cisco switches.
For how long have I used the solution?
The core Cisco Catalyst Switch is 4507.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Cisco Catalyst Switches are stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Cisco Catalyst Switches are scalable, and we use them for the entire team.
We don't need an upgrade right now because we're transitioning to another product that's already in place and ready in our infrastructure.
We have 500 users in our company.
We don't have any plans to increase our usage.
How are customer service and support?
We don't have any issues with the technical support.
I believe we contacted support for the core switch once, and they helped us with the firmware, which we upgraded. It was, however, about five years ago.
Years ago, we didn't use any kind of support. But I believe it is working, and they are working threefold with no problems.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We use several products such as Cisco Switches, Access Points, Linksys, and Fortinet FortiGate.
We use an older version of Cisco Access Points, 4400, I believe.
Before Catalyst, we used Extreme Switches. We worked with Extreme Switches for five years.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward. We have previous experience with Cisco switches. We can easily assist with any upgrades or support. It is very simple for us.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price is fine.
It is reasonably priced because we have already conducted a tender, allowing Cisco and other vendors to compete for the best price.
We did not renew the support.
It was a good price because, as I previously stated, we held a tender for purchasing and received the best offer.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to my colleagues.
I would rate Cisco Catalyst Switches a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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Updated: March 2026
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